NUDI Night: Even for non-divers!

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 21st, 2011

Even for non-divers!

If you’re interested in diving and photography, NUDI Night is probably something you can add to your list of to do’s. Although we’re mostly divers, we also have non-diver friends join us for our monthly meetup. If you’ve always been curious about SCUBA and have been wanting to try it out, this is a good venue to get together and meet the community of divers, instructors, dive masters and their non-diver friends.

So, if your Tuesday evening is still free, do drop by! There’s a small charge of PHP 500.00 to cover for food, beer and the venue.

When: Tuesday, February 22 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Where: Unit 217 (Closed Pavilion) 2nd Flr. LRI Design Plaza 210 N. Garcia St. (formerly Reposo St.), Bel-Air II Makati, Philippines

A convenient way to win 2 highly coveted tickets to Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at May 17th, 2010

I was floored when I got a call from C&G asking if I would like to take part in promoting this event. I’ve seen him work his magic on the Internet but it will be quite different when you see it in person.

So here’s the deal. I have two extra tickets to Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth this coming June 8 2010. See him live. Listen to him talk about global warming. Maybe have a photo with him. Post it on Facebook. Get comments.

June 8 2010
SM Mall of Asia
4:00 PM

(Remember that June 8 is a weekday!)

These tickets are expensive, so I’m giving these away to two individuals who can do the following:

1. Go to this post.
2. Read it.
3. Leave a reaction. Leave many more. The two people with the best insight and can converse with me there win. Also make sure you leave a valid name and email address or contact number.
4. Yes, I know the “best” is relative. But so are the tickets. They’re relatively expensive. If comments don’t get approved quickly, please be patient as I am usually out during the day.
5. I’ll close the conversation before midnight, this Monday, 11:59 PM May 24 2010.

Good luck and see you there!

Speedtests should not be the measure of mobile broadband

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 17th, 2009

I don’t get it.

I don’t understand the hype behind these speed tests.

SMART, Globe, SUN … does it really matter who claims to be the fastest? Based on studies, Globe claims to be the fastest but everyone else says it isn’t so. SMART fluctuates as well. SUN is the “fastest” and also the “slowest.”

So… what now?

For me it’s really simple. Buy the mobile broadband of choice that has relatively OK coverage where you frequent. The reason why I use SMARTBro is because it’s more effective in non-Ayala properties (this is a personal observation so it might be different with you). If you go to an Ayala Mall anyway, there will always be a free WiFi coffee shop around the corner so it negates the need for a dongle. Besides, lots of malls have free WiFi anyway.

To summarize: SMARTBro = better outside malls. Inside malls = use free WiFi. Cebu = SMARTBro. Davao = Are you kidding?! There’s free WiFi on the streets!!!

Again, these are personal observations.

And, when technology fails (believe me, we put too much trust in technology), use this for SMART and this for Globe.

Hands on with the Nokia N900 running on Maemo Interface

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 17th, 2009

The Nokia N900, seen wild in this blurry camera phone pic, is in Manila. Yesterday was Nokia’s Christmas Party and apart from winning a Nokia 5800 XpressMusic phone (!!!) at the raffle I got the chance to take a peek at the new N900. I only got the better of 4 minutes with the device so here are my first impressions in bullet form. These are general impressions on the N900 as well as the new Maemo user interface.

The N900 is beautiful. It is a sturdy messaging phone, light to the touch with fast UI response.

• The multiple desktop functions of the Maemo UI is similar to the iPod / iPhone’s. You are allowed to have four desktops which you can scroll through using your thumb. Imagine combining the widget home screen interface of Samsung and Apple’s iPhone and this is what you get. It works.
• The “apps menu” icon has been changed to resemble a series of squares on the upper left. Pressing that opens the application menu. One noticeable difference is that “Messaging” has been changed to “Conversations” which is really the move to threaded messaging. When you have multiple messages open, Maemo shows this ala Expose for Mac OS X with each window (let’s say, two message threads and the main Inbox) all neatly aligned. You can delete a window using the big “X” on the upper right hand side. The N900 is highlighted by its really good integration of messaging applications.
• The new UI is fast. Essentially, the changes are really aesthetic. I can compare it to how HTC made their own interface (before the SenseUI of the HTC Hero) over and above Windows Mobile to compensate for the slow and rather outdated UI. Maemo is Linux based so it does feel lighter.
• I noticed that Maemo doesn’t have a back button. I could be wrong but going back to previous functions entails using a hidden button on the N900 which I discovered by accident. Again, I’m not sure if this is a feature of the N900 per se or as a part of Maemo.
• No pricing yet. This phone isn’t even OFFICIALLY out yet locally.

A Decade of Zombies in Four Parts

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 15th, 2009

Last week, Scrivs and the gang were shooting ideas for our year end series for ForeverGeek. I think it was Franky who suggested we do a “10 Years of…” series.

So, in the advent of the pending apocalypse, I wrote a four part series titled “A Decade of Zombies.”

This series doesn’t aim to list down every single zombie film and reference in the past ten years. What it wants to achieve however, is to bring together a sort of cohesiveness into the building of a cultural phenomenon that hinges on two themes: breaking social norms in order to survive, and finding order in total anarchy.

Parts I-IV below.

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

How UNO Magazine helps us be patient for James Jean’s trip

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at November 16th, 2009

This is a little online partnership I worked with Fully Booked and my “day job” with UNO as online editor. We’re giving away three works of James Jean.

James Jean.

Who the hell is James jean??!

Thanks to my fellow editor Luis Katigbak, we found this little paragraph that best describes him:

“Like Wolverine, James Jean is the best at what he does. Unlike Wolverine, James Jean doesn’t kill people with razors that pop out of his hand. You might not know James Jean by name but you’ve seen his work. His art’s all over the place. It’s in galleries, on Prada bags, album covers, in magazines and on the covers of DC comics. Tom Herpich and Kenichi Hoshine are simlarly talented and definitely blow minds with their intense talent and vision but James Jean is the king. James’ drawings have sophistication, power and delicacy beyond what most drawers can muster.”

– Nick Gazin, VICELAND

His art is all over the place, the ubiquity is overwhelming. So there’s a book signing and a “meet and greet” but we have something to help bide the wait. We’re raffling off some of his works. To join, click here.

The following prizes are up for grabs, courtesy of Fully Booked:

One (1) copy of Process Recess volume 3
One (1) copy of Fables Volume 1 Deluxe Edition
One (1) copy of XOXO Postcard Book

Contest runs from November 4 – November 18. Deadline for entries is November 18, 11:59 PM. Editors of UNO will submit a shortlist of contestants to Fully Booked. Fully Booked will then determine the 3 lucky winners.

Winners will be announced on November 20.

Prizes can be claimed at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street. Prizes not claimed after 30 days will be forfeited in favor of Fully Booked.

You need to leave the comments on the UNO blog. Three more days guys! We have more than 50 entries so far, so good luck!

New Nike+ Sport Bands retail for P3,295

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 7th, 2009

Nike+ runners will be glad to know that the new sport bands have been upgraded. The new bands come in three colors — purple, yellow, and red interiors and the LCD screen now comes with a white background — this was a chore to use before, especially when running at night, because the screen wasn’t visible. Here is a comparison I made last year between the iPod Nike+ kit and the sports band.

For those of you who purchased first generation Nike+ bands, how long did it take before the screen cracked? I know of two cases, apart from mine, where after taking really good care of the sports band, the screen would crack (I think a better way to explain it would be the LCD would just die and display gibberish).

Hope they fix this for the second generation bands.

Kobe Bryant coming to Manila on July 21 2009

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at July 3rd, 2009

Hey guys, Kobe’s coming to town! Although this is really a tech blog, some of my readers have requested to post new things about basketball / Nike gear when they come my way. So here you go!

BEAVERTON, Ore. (3 July, 2009) – Nike announced today that it would host 2009 NBA Champion and Finals MVP Kobe Bryant on a six-city tour of Asia. Developed as an opportunity for Kobe to meet with kids throughout Asia to inspire, energize and improve their basketball skills, Kobe’s tour will make stops in Manila, Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Chengdu, China, starting July 21, 2009.

From July 1st, Nike will launch the Nike Dream Season. Developed to meet the needs of outdoor basketball players in Asia, the Nike Dream Season was designed with insights from Kobe. The shoe will be a part of his signature collection and will be sold exclusively in Asia.

Kobe Bryant 2009 Asia Tour Schedule:
July 21: Manila
July 22: Singapore
July 23: Taipei
July 24: Hong Kong
July 25: Shanghai
July 26: Chengdu

Watch out for updates on the Kobe Bryant 2009 Asia Tour: Philippines on www.nike.com.ph or tune it to W.N.I.K.E. Radio on 89.9 DWTM Mondays from 10:00am to 10:30am.

Audible Picks: The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at October 31st, 2008

This is part 3 of my Halloween series of posts. Part II is here and Part I is here. Happy Halloween! This post was inspired by AM and AG.

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead is a cult favorite among those fascinated with the inevitable arrival of the zombie apocalypse. The book is hard to find, as compared to Max Brooks’ second book World War Z which is available in National Bookstore, Fully Booked and Powerbooks.

The Zombie Survival Guide is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now. Exhaustively comprehensive, this book covers everything you need to know, including how to understand zombie physiology and behavior, the most effective defense tactics and weaponry, ways to outfit your home for a long siege, and how to survive and adapt in any territory or terrain.

Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack:
1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection: tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

Don’t be carefree and foolish with your most precious asset: life. The Zombie Survival Guide offers complete protection through trusted, proven tips for safeguarding yourself and your loved ones against the living dead. It is an audiobook that can save your life.

So if you can’t find the book, let’s listen to the audiobook. Once again, Audible saves the day!

P.S. World War Z is also available on Audible.

P.P.S. Max Brooks is the son of Mel Brooks.

P.P.S. If you’re a non believer in the zombie apocalypse and believe that one day robots will rule the world, you can also check out How to Survive a Robot Uprising.

Backstage Photos with Chicane in Manila

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 28th, 2008

Had the very rare chance to spend some time backstage with Chicane. I think this is their third time in Manila, but this was the very first time for me to see them live at the World Trade Center. People often mistake Chicane for a DJ when in fact they are a band of four (at least for this tour) – drums, vocals, guitar and keyboards / programming.

Despite the many sound f*** ups (I’ve never seen a concert go on dead air twice on the same night!), this was one of the best live shows I’ve ever experienced. It wasn’t Chicane’s fault for the sound system. The guys from Big Fish said that their equipment was being harassed by dust particles *shrug*. Sucks that the technical glitch happened while they were playing Offshore. Seriously, this could have been one of the best concerts I attended if not for the sound system! It’s a huge blow to the sponsors.

A huge thanks to Nikka from Nokia for scoring us tickets. I was with fellow “Chicanenees” Rico, Jane and Christian, Phoebe (who manged to score an interview with vocalist Natasha Brocklebanks!), Helga and Rockstar Fritz.

If you wish to grab these photos, feel free to do so. I’d just appreciate a photo credit. That’s not a lot to ask for since these photos aren’t even watermarked. More photos after the jump.

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Defacto Jeans Limited Edition Pouches

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at September 20th, 2008

About a week ago I was taking the escalator from a meeting at The Podium when a lady tapped me behind the shoulder,

“Excuse me, but did you just come from Viktor jeans?”

Quick to realize that she was looking at my super sexy black jeans (it’s these but color black; love the iPod / cellphone slot on the sides), I replied (excitedly – because this was the first time someone ever started a conversation with me because of fashion sense),

“Ah, no. Sorry but these are my custom made Defactos.”

After stepping off the escalator she explained how she thought I came from Viktor and got that pair, as they were closed for lunch. I told her that this was the 4th pair of jeans from Tats Paman and Tanya Blay, and not only are they really good custom jeans, they’re also more affordable. Ever since my first pair of Defactory Jeans back in 2007, I’ve never bought denims off the shelf from a department store. Really.

I dropped by Defacto yesterday to pick up my latest pair. I wanted something that was a tad bit of shiny when the light hit it at an angle and this is what they gave me:

Hot! It took me 30 minutes to “build” this pair with the guys at the store and I’m really happy with the turnout. They also let me take home (for free!) three limited edition stitched Defacto pouches for your cellphone, iPod or any gadget that fits. There are two compartments in the pouch – a padded area for your device and another for accessories. The limited edition pouches are given to loyal customers because Defacto is celebrating their 2nd year anniversary!.

As of today, I have had 6 pairs of Defacto Jeans made! Anyone who’s been around me for a while knows how passionate I talk about this brand of custom jeans. Today, a pair starts at P1,800.00 and can go as high as P3,000++. I’ve stuck to jeans with basic cuts to save costs – they’re still very nice. They usually take 5 to 7 days to make. To order, you need to do a downpayment of 50% and choose the style, seams and material. That’s the fun part!

I’ll deliver one of these pouches to your doorstep!

So yay! I decided to raffle off one of these pouches to my readers! This contest is eligible to anyone from the Philippines with the pouch mailed to your doorstep via 2Go (I have a crapload of these 2Go plastic bags at my home, so rather than mailing flowers to myself let’s use it for something productive and fun!).

Mechanics
1. To enter the raffle, all you need to do is leave a comment answering the question “What makes jeans so hot?!”

2. You can enter as many comments as you want as long as the answers are different. Please leave a valid email address in the comment field so I can contact you if you win.

3. The contest is open till 11:59 PM of September 24, 2008. I will be drawing a winner using Luck of the Draw, an application I always use for contests I run on my cellphone blog.

Also, if by chance you do not win but still want these pouches (note: as much as possible they don’t want to sell these) and other custom made attire (they also do polo shirts, vests and jackets), you can always drop by their store:

Unit 112 Mile Long Building
Amorsolo cor. Herrera St. Legaspi Village
Makati City
www.defactory.multiply.com
Email: defacto.industry at gmail dot com
Contact Numbers: 0920-4291393 // 8184708